Issa backs down

Typical of his nasty nature, Darrell Issa couldn't admit defeat, couldn't even refrain from snide and sarcastic attacks in his own defeat.   But at least he had to back down.

This concerns his obsession with investigating "Benghazi," ad infinitum.    Even Republicans had been saying that he was "going rogue," when he issued a subpoena to Secretary of State John Kerry to testify, even after eight other investigations of Benghazi, and even after the Select Committee of the House was formed to do a complete investigation.

Because he quotes John Boehner in his statement, I'm guessing that Boehner finally stepped in and told him to stop and let the Select Committee take over.   At any rate, Issa has released Kerry from the forced appearance before the Oversight Committee . . .  but, oh, so ungraciously !

Kerry made a very smart tactical move last week.    He released a statement saying that he would testify for the Oversight Committee, answering all questions, which would then make it unnecessary for him to testify again for the Select Committee.

This forced Issa into the position of overt competition with the Select Committee, and I'm guessing at that point Boehner stepped in to tell Issa to back off.

But Issa didn't go quietly.   Here's part of his statement:

“Seeing Secretary Kerry and others, who have worked to obstruct critical oversight of Congress’ investigations into Benghazi, attempt to use the upcoming June 12 hearing as a shield against the Select Committee tells me it’s time to reassess. It’s been disappointing to watch a long serving former Senator, like Secretary Kerry, squirm his way to what I’m doing today – releasing him from the upcoming hearing commitment he made only after we issued him a subpoena. . . .

“No matter how long the investigation of a terrorist attack that killed four Americans takes, getting the full truth is what matters. . . .  While Speaker Boehner and I had both originally concluded that Secretary Kerry needed to promptly testify and explain why his Department had withheld subpoenaed documents, neither of us immediately recognized how opponents of congressional oversight would use this as an opportunity to distract from the Select Committee’s effort."

Understand that Kerry is not being excused from testifying -- just shifting it out of Issa's control and to the Select Committee.   But of course that is the problem for Issa.  He lost this chance to exercise his sadism and make the Secretary of State grovel as his feet.
 
There are many reasons to wish that the Democrats could take back control of the house.   Not the least of them would be to get rid of the despicable Darrell Issa as chair of the Oversight Committee.   His meanness goes over into abuse of power in some instances.

Ralph